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Published: December 2018

More could be done by the CFPB to stop harassment from debt collectors

Nearly 75 advocate groups joined together in urging the new CFPB director, Kathy Kraninger, to implement stronger rules that protect the 71 million adults in the United States with debt from abusive and harassing debt collection practices.

Even though it’s been more than 40 years since the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act became law, debt collection problems are a leading source of consumer complaints to the Consumer Protection Bureau (CFPB). The CFPB received approximately 84,500 complaints about debt collectors in 2017 alone. The CFPB has the power to protect consumers from these harassing tactics, and should do more to protect their privacy, limit the collection of time-barred debt, and improve the clarity and accuracy of debt collection notices.